08/24/2026
Crazy is spreading world wide
On August 20, 2026, a court in Joinville, Brazil, convicted 38-year-old Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira of fra¥d and false identity after she lived with a family while pretending to be a 12-year-old girl.
Investigators stated that Oliveira first claimed to be an adult, then a teenager, and eventually adopted the false identity of Gabriele Ferreira dos Santos, claiming she was 12 years old. She approached a local church claiming she experienced child-related harm from her father. A pastor helped her and introduced her to a family, who welcomed her into their home for about 14 months.
To maintain the act, Oliveira drank from baby bottles, used pacifiers, slept with a comfort object, and stayed in a pink bedroom filled with children's items. She claimed to have autism, other medical conditions, and claimed she was forced to take hormones to explain her adult appearance. During this time, the family provided food, housing, and care.
When the family looked into formal adoption, Oliveira resisted completing official paperwork or enrolling in school. Suspicious family members searched online and discovered records of similar acts across Brazil. Oliveira was arrested on June 2, 2026. Authorities stated she admitted to using a false identity and uncovered past incidents in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, and Goiás.
In August 2022, she reportedly identified as Ana Clara dos Santos Oliveira in Jundiaí, Brazil, claiming to be a child born in 2009 who escaped harm, before authorities discovered she was actually 34 years old.
In the Joinville case, court-ordered evaluations identified several mental-health diagnoses. On August 20, 2026, the judge sentenced Oliveira to one year, six months, and 10 days of imprisonment, plus four months and 18 days of detention under an initial semi-open regime. The judge cited financial benefits gained through fra¥d and the emotional toll on the family. Her defense attorneys stated they plan to appeal the ruling.
